Mining Engineering

The deep coalmines of West Virginia might seem a world away from the bustling
offices of a big city engineering firm, but they are more connected than
they might first appear. Before miners can delve into the earth's surface
to extract raw materials, it takes top mining engineers to coordinate
all of the challenges this process presents.

If your idea of a nine-to-five job involves moving mountains (literally)
and getting a bit dusty, then a career in mining engineering might be
the field for you. Engineers in the field of mining engineering provide
manufacturers around the world with raw materials for the products they
make. They are also responsible for the safety of mining crews and are
accountable for the protection of the earth's resources. However, the
field is surprisingly quite small. So small, in fact, that most professors
of mining programs know each other by name. This tight knit community
has an upside-they're eager to invite promising, young engineers to join
their ranks.

The field of mining took a hit in the 1980s due to low prices for minerals
and a lingering recession. But now mining engineering is seeing a comeback
unlike anything the industry has seen in 15 years.

If you're unsure what path your engineering career should take, read
on to learn more about this exciting field that's looking for exceptional

Moving On Up

In the United States, there are only a handful of mining engineering
programs. There are 13 total, which is down from 20 programs in the 1980s.
Many schools like Michigan Tech, University of Idaho and Texas A &
M have either closed their programs or have integrated them into other
engineering programs.

As the price of commodities continues to rise, the mining field is seeing
many of its workforce prepare to retire-about 200-400 per year, according
to a Society of Mining Engineering report released this February. This
rapid retirement rate is causing an acute shortage of mining engineers.

"Companies waited too long, waiting 20 years between hiring a new
workforce," says Dr. Larry Grayson, chair and professor of mining
engineering at the University of Missouri-Rolla. This is creating a big
problem for mining companies looking to replace these workers. However,
for recent graduates, this increased need for mining engineers provides
a wealth of opportunities and a unique chance to move quickly up the ladder.

When you think of mining, you might conjure up images of men covered
in coal dust, holding pick axes while being lowered into a mine shaft.
Though mining might not be portrayed as glamorous or given as much attention
as other engineering fields, the field requires engineers to be knowledgeable
about the surface and underground of the earth, as well as the strength
of the materials that are being extracted. "Many engineers have a
misconception about mining, thinking that it's old fashioned," says
Dr. Charles Kliche, associate professor of mining engineering at South
Dakota School of Mines and Technology. In reality, however, "mining
is high-tech, using computer aided design in equipment, explosives and
mine design."

When new mining graduates come out of their programs, many head directly
into management trainee programs and work on a variety of projects, including
surveying a potential mine to overseeing a crew. "Mining engineers
have a career path going from mine manager and up to vice president. Most
presidents of mineral companies are degreed mining engineers," says
Kliche.

Where to Land a Job

If you decide to pursue a career in mining engineering, where's the best
part of the country to pursue a career? Check out areas with major concentrations
of minerals, including the Southwest for its copper, Northern Minnesota
and Northern Michigan for its iron and West Virginia for its coal.

If you're not interested in moving to a rural area, future mining engineers
should look to urban areas where crushed rock is used in the construction
of new homes. "Quarries (used for crushed rock) present more of a
challenge for engineers. They will face zoning and expanding issues, as
well as issues of dust and vibrations," says Dr. Gregory Adel, assistant
department head of mining and materials engineering at Virginia Tech,
the largest mining engineering school in the country. Adel also sees growth
in the area of aggregates (granite, sandstone, limestone) industry, especially
in the last ten years.

Other areas that mining engineers may work in include health and safety,
explosives engineering, mine design and tunnel construction.

More Bang for Your Buck

Graduates entering the mining engineering field will earn substantial
starting salaries. "In the last three years, graduates have been
seeing salaries at $46,000 and up, and those who are in coal see $50,000
and up," says Grayson.

Besides an excellent starting salary, what else is so appealing about
the mining field for new graduates? While there are some desk jobs in
mining engineering, the big benefit for many is the chance to work on
the job site.

"When talking to freshman, I ask them if they want to be outside
working with people and big equipment, or behind a desk," says Adel.
"If their answer is outside, then mining
engineering is for them."

Adel also agrees that recent graduates in mining engineering will have
the opportunity to move up the ladder quickly by training for management
positions, news which will certainly appeal to engineers with upper management
goals.

So what type of projects might future mining engineers expect to be doing
once they enter the work world? A good example actually comes from the
academic sector: The University of West Virginia is conducting a research
project along with the Riverton Coal Production Inc. that's improving
upon roof-boalting a hard rock mine using a real-time, computerized method
to determine the stability and geology of the roof. In laymen's terms,
roof-boalting is supporting the roof of an underground mine. This project
will help determine drill position, rotation speed and torque, and bolt
size and strength. The stronger the roof is, the safer the workers are,
and the higher the ultimate production value is of the mine. For more
information on this project, visit www.wvu.edu.

Graduates might also work for a mining consulting company. Mining consultants
don't actually do the mining projects themselves, but they provide complete
and thorough analysis of projects, detailing the equipment and labor need,
costs of the project and construction schedule. McIntosh Engineering of
Tempe, Ariz., is one such company that consults on dozens of projects,
mainly in the Western United States and Canada. Checkout their Web site
www.mcintoshengineering.com
for more information.

Diamond in the Rough

Mining engineering is probably one of the least recognized fields of
engineering, but workers in the specialty have a great responsibility
to the health of the planet and the successful function of the manufacturing
industry.

With the mining industry's current upswing and the current dearth of
engineers to fill the new positions, now is an ideal time to take a closer
look closer look at a career in this burgeoning field.